Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / Dec. 29, 1977, edition 2 / Page 1
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The News record r~--1 at Madison in 1977 SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY see page 6 J 76th Year, No. 51 PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE COUNTY SEAT AT MARSHALL. N C THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1977 15* Per Cop/ I?Heard And Seen By POP STORY As I sit at my typewriter on Monday, the day after Christmas, I observe that practically all businesses are closed as are the various agencies, banks, courthouse, post office, etc... very few people are seen strolling along the sidewalks... I wouldn't be working today either, but it is necessary to write copy for this week's edition and the deadline is Tuesday morning... there is very little going on in the way of news but people expect the paper to be "put out" as usual ? news or not... many businesses and agen cies, including the courthouse, were closed last Friday... and the courthouse and banks were closed Saturday... everybody "took off" Christmas Day... and with the holiday Monday, I trust that subscribers will un r d?*^t?! nd. With the new year starting Sunday, it is time to reflect upon 1977.... the past year has been filled with many heartaches with perhaps the recent devastating flood being the top story of 1977... however, one can still recall the record-breaking, sub-zero weather experienced here last winter... and who could forget the many water problems experienced in Marshall and vicinity during the past year?... major fires destroyed many homes during 1977... wrecks caused many injuries and deaths in 1977... local players and fans endured another winless season in football at Madison High... many landmarks were either purposely torn down or were destroyed by fire or winds... but with all these heartaches there were many pleasant happenings... several new homes were built throughout the county, especially in the Mars Hill area... our 4-Her's won many honors... opening of the new Marshall post office... new water lines were installed in Marshall... necessary wells were dug and are not in use for water supplies in Mar shall... numerous clubs and organizations had successful projects... Day Care Centers were improved and senior citizens were helped by "meals on wheels"... many businesses reported "good years"... church attendances increased in many sections... Mars Hill College continued to progress... and displays of "helping others" were at an all-time high when disasters struck... yes, we have much for which to be thankful during the past year... and as the New Year approaches, it is the hope that 1978 will bring to our county added achievements and happiness. The Christmas morning service at the Marshall Baptist Church was most im pressive... the congregational singing of favorite Christmas Hymns, and carols, the messages of the Rev. Vincent Young and the Rev. George Moore, the beautiful solos by Kathy Young and John Corbett, and the observance of the Lord's Supper among the various denominations present were among the highlights of Christmas. I enjoyed seeing several persons who were visiting here over the holidays, in cluding one of my former secretaries, Jean Middleton, the former Jean Thomas, who resides in Cullowhee, and Mrs. E. B. Mathis, the former Amelia Jane Rector, of Sumter, S. C., and many others. I also wish to thank all the fine people? for sending Christmas cards... and I wish for everyone a Happy New Year. Public Appreciates Work Of DOT On Roads, Bridges If you think your car is hard to start on a cold, winter morning, you should try starting a bulldozer in zero degree weather Or if you think a flat tire is a hassle to change, imagine changing a flat on a backhoe that sits in the midst of a frigid mountain stream Such are the obstacles, along with lots of mud and misplaced rocks, that Department of Transportation (DOT) maintenance crews have had to face as they piece back together the roads and bridges in Western North Carolina that were so badly damaged by heavy rains and flash floods in early November Obstacles or no, they have continued at full-speed ahead working from "dawn to dusk," first, to free those who were stranded or isolated and. second, to make emergency repairs Secretary of Tran sportation Thomas W. Bradshaw Jr said, "An ad ditional 1,200 employees and almost 200 pieces of equip ment were moved from other parts of the state into the disaster area, encompassing Ashe. Avery. Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Watauga. Wilkes and Yancey counties, to assist in the repair work. State Rep. Ernest B Messer of Canton, upon touring the areas devastated by floods, observed convoys of DOT equipment He talked with many who suffered from the disaster and they "...were highly complimentary of DOT's efforts to get the roads and bridges back in operation as rapidly as possible," he said. "I never heard any criticism," he added Rep Messer's district includes Haywood, Jackson, Madison and Swain counties. One DOT employee, on the job in Yancey County, remarked that he had "been working 12 hours a day, seven days a week with only four days off. I've got a little one at home," he added "I don't get to see her very often." DOT field personnel assigned to help with the flood damage repairs experienced long hours on the job and little time at home with the family DOT maintenance crew leader Blaine Peterson of Yancey County bragged on his men, "Every man has done his part and more. Each one has been mighty cooperative," he said, as his crew labored moving rocks, putting in pipe, rerouting streams and operating equipment to repair an un paved secondary road in Yancey County. At this point, DOT, having rescued those stranded or isolated, now nears com pleting emergency repairs and will start making per manent repairs to damages estimated at more than (15 million. A total of 91 bridges and one reinforced concrete box culvert was destroyed. Eighty-eight other bridges on the state highway system were severely damaged. Approximately 390 miles of roadway on the system were damaged extensively. Of this, some 289 miles were secon dary roads and some 101 miles were primary roads. "This step marks only the beginning of reconstruction," said Jim Medlin, DOT's high way division engineer for Buncombe, Burke, Madison. McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford and Yancey counties. "It will take several months to get our roads and bridges back in the condition they once were. The damages are so massive and the winter months will slow the con struction process down con siderably," he added So far the weather has been "pretty good." according to DOT crews in Yancey and Buncombe counties But a couple of mornings the temperatures have plunged near zero, and that's when David Camp of Rutherford County had trouble starting his diesel-fueled "dozer " "It wouldn't even stir for two days," he said. It seems he was particularly anxious to remove one of many rocks from an unpaved roadway in Yancey County so an area resident "could get his tobacco out before Christ mas." But the worst is yet to come, warned Medlin Not only will the weather get colder, but snowy and icy conditions are almost inevitable As Medlin's assistant division engineer Dan Martin explained it. "Just because many of the damaged roads are passable, does not mean they are wholly restored There are still portions of undermined roadway, sec tions of broken and cracked pavement and stretches where great chunks of Continued on Page 7 WESTCO Telephone Co. em ployees are installing new 600 pair cables along Main Street in Marshall to the Little Pine area as the system is being improved. Above picture taken in Marshall Tuesday morning as linesmen braved frigid weather while putting up the new cables. (News Record Photo by Jim Story) English Killed In Plane Crash Samuel Wayne English, 19, of Bryson City, was killed Saturday afternoon in a plane crash near Water Rock Knob in Jackson County. Also killed in the plane accident was P. S. Ferguson, 59, of Bryson City. The bodies of the two men were recovered Sunday from the wreckage of a single engine Cessna that crashed in rugged terrain about 40 miles west of Asheville. The Jackson County Sheriff's Department said the plane took off from Asheville about 1 p.m. Saturday. Heavy fog had obscured nearby mountain tops and reduced visibility to 50 feet in some areas. Radio contact with the plane was lost shortly before 1:30 p.m. Saturday. An aerial search for tne plane was initiated at 3:30 p.m. but was suspended later because of darkness and heavy fog. The wreckage was sighted on the west side of Buff Creek Mountain in Jackson County when the search resumed at 8 a.m. Sunday. Rescue workers scaled the terrain on foot and found the bodies late Sunday morning. Witnesses in the area reported seeing a plane flying at a very low altitude early Saturday afternoon. The witnesses said they heard the motor noise fade away and then heard a crashing sound. A spokesman for the sheriff's department said 1 Sunday that the cause of the crash has not been deter mined, nor has it been determined which of the men was piloting the plane English was a native of Swain County and was a sophomore at N. C. State University. He was a member and past church board member of the Bryson City United Methodist Church. He was enrolled in the Air Force ROTC and was a member of the Swain County Civil Air Patrol. He is survived by the parents, Roy and Ruth Carolyn Hyatt English of Bryson City; three brothers, Jim English of Big Stone Gap. Va., Tom English of Gaffney, S. C., and Lee English of Bryson City; the paternal grandmother, Mrs. Grace English of Marshall; and the maternal grandfather. Z. J. Hyatt of Bryson City. Services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Bryson City United Methodist Church. The Rev. Clark Poole, the Rev. William Clodfelter and the Rev. Rondal Brown of ficiated. Burial was in Swain Memorial Park. Hot Springs Methodists Receive Aid United Methodists of the Western North Carolina Conference have given $28,555 thus far to flood relief in the western counties, according to Bishop L. Scott Allen of Charlotte, who issued a call for emergency funds Dec. 4. The Bishop's Committee on Flood Relief, which met Dec. 19 in Marion, has allocated $21,500 of the monies to various needs. Bishop Allen presides over the 278,000 members of the conference. Hardest hit in the con ference by the floods which struck the first weekend of November was the Asheville district, especially Yancey County One church in the North Wilkesboro district received severe flood damage Included in the allocations was $4,000 to the Hot Springs United Methodist Church. Head Start Gets Grant Of #337,408 Congressman Lamar Gudger and U. S. Sen. Robert Morgan announced last Friday that a service grant of $337,408 has been awarded for the Head Start Program for a full year ? part day. The grantee organization is the Opportunity Corporation of Madison-Buncombe counties. "This action reflects final carry over balance for the program year," Gudger announced. The grant was made through the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Office of Human Development Services, Administration for Children, Youth and Families. The grantee organization's headquarters are located at 50 Westgate Parkway, Asheville, 28806. < ? Fire Destroys Justice Home The mobile home of Mr and Mrs. Joe Justice and family of the Flats of Spring Creek, was completely destroyed by fire early Saturday morning Cause of the fire is un determined. According to reports. Mrs Justice was awakened by the heat from the flames about 1 a.m. Mr and Mrs Justice and two daughters barely escaped but all contents in the home were burned including a sizable amount of money Lion Winners Winners in the Marshall Lions Club Christmas Baskets for the Blind project are as follows: Remington Shotgun, Mrs. John (Pat) Kent, Route 6, Marshall; Deluxe portable sewing machine, Calude Davis, Marshall, chain saw with case. Mrs. Talmadge McLean, Route 6, Marshall Remington rifle, 22-caliber, Arnold Davis, Marshall; G. E. toaster oven, Glenn Town send; and a case knife. Fred Briggs. Route 2. Marshall. License Plates, Stickers On Sale Tuesday Motor vehicle validation stickers and plates will go on sale throughout the state on Jan. 3. the N. C. Department of Transportation's Division of Motor Vehicles has an nounced Renewal cards necessary for obtaining a 1878 sticker or plate were mailed Dec. 15 by DMV and should be received by Jan. 1. Anyone not receiving a renewal card should notify the Division of Motor Vehicls in Raleigh <91* 733-3025) and allow for two weeks to obtain a card. Motorists who are newcomers to North Carolina, or those buying a car for the first time, should make ap plication for a license plate at the nearest local agency. New plates or stickers must be displayed by midnight Feb. IS. Plates will be $1 higher in 1978 The extra dollar was authorised by the General Assembly and will be used for the continuation of driver education courses t Except for some special classifications, 1978 automobile licenses will be renewed with a validation sticker to be affixed to the upper right-hand corner of the current plate, over the 1977 sticker. Care should be taken to place the sticker exactly as instructed to prevent ac cidental removal. An annual license plate will continue to be issued for trucks and other classifications Any newly acquired vehicle will be issued a plate and * is sticker unless a plate is to be transferred. Those purchasing license plates or stickers are reminded that the Madison County License Agency is now located in the R&R Outlet Building on the Marshall bypM*' flsi that office hour* will be M MfMirfivt TiMiiflairi THiir sdays. Friday, and *12 noon Wednesdays and Satiadays ?* *afl i ' r P*
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
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Dec. 29, 1977, edition 2
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